Choosing a puppy appears to be rather a haphazard affair, and when you consider how many different breeds there are to choose from and how human nature varies, it’s not surprising we sometimes end up with the wrong dog. So, let’s approach the subject of buying a puppy from a completely different angle—the puppy’s. For a long-lasting and fruitful relationship, you need not only the right breed, but also the right temperament. First of all, we must sweep away all the old sayings about buying dogs: for example, if you have a large house you can have a large dog; if you live in a flat you must have a small dog. As far as I am concerned, the size of your living accommodation is irrelevant to the size of your dog. A Great Dane will be quite contented living in a flat if he’s given the right amount of exercise and attention from his owner, and let’s forget the nonsense about little dogs requiring little exercise. Unless you’re thinking in terms of a Chihuahua, every dog needs to be exercised daily. (more…)
There are many sources for a cat or kitten — pet stores, breeders, animal welfare organizations, friends and neighbours — or a stray cat may size up the prospects of your home, like the look of them, and make the choice for you. Unless you actually want to give a stray a home, find it another or pass it on to an animal welfare organization as soon as possible or you will land yourself with a new and permanent companion. Similarly, do not be pressured into taking a cat or kitten from a neighbour. However, giving a home to a cat in need will at least save it from joining the thousands that welfare organizations have to put to sleep each year, as will taking one from a cat refuge. (more…)
Wherever you go to find a kitten, you obviously want to choose a healthy one, so look out for any tell-tale signs of illness or infestation — not only in your selected kitten, but in any other cats in the cattery or pet store.
If you are allowed to handle a kitten — and you should be, provided you have not been in contact with other cats from which you might pass on disease — you should not feel any hard or scabby patches of skin under the fur. The fur itself should be free of any powdery deposit, which might suggest a skin condition, and of the black specks that could be the droppings of fleas. The eyes should be bright and follow everything with interest. Neither they nor the nose should have any runny discharge, and the ears should be clean and free from gummy fluid or brown specks that result from ear mites. (more…)
